New unemployment benefit claims drop

In the week ending Aug. 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment benefits was 315,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 319,000. The four-week moving average was 315,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 313,750. The four-week average is the lowest since March 2001.